Automatic pump selector valve



Oct. 23, 1945. 1 H. E. Ross 2,387,531

' AUTOMATIC PUMP SELECTOR VALVE Filed March 22, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet} [NVENTOR I HOWARD EDWARDS ROSE BY ATTORNEY Oct. 23, 1945. H. E. ROSE AUTOMATIC PUMP SELECTOR V ALVE Filed [larch 22, 1943 HOWARD EDWARDS ROSE BY ATTORNEY S 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 both the oil supply and hunted Oct. 23,1945

UNITED STATES PATE NT IOFFIC'E AUTOMATIC PUMP SELECTOBvALVE Howard Edwards Bose, Normandy, Mo., assignor to Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application March 22, 1943, Serial No. 480,104

11 Claims.

actuating means in order to retain the landing gear, or other movable part, in its adjusted position independently of the pressure supply when 7 this pressure supply had failed dueto'some destruction to the pump or the-oil lines. In such airplanes where the pumps are located outwardly of the center of the airplane, there are numerous lines extending to and from the fuselage where the oil reservoir is usually located, and these lines which are vulnerable to gun fire often become damaged. .When a pressure line is damaged, oil may continue to be pumped from the reservoir through the suction line and the oil supply is thus depleted in short order should the operator fail to operate the manual selector valve to throw the same over to the other pump. During this time the hydraulic pressure of the system would. go completely to zero until the operator had moved the selector valve to take all from the other pump.

. With complete failure of pressure and due to the time delay in bringing up further pressure,

many of the vital parts of the aircraft would become valve there is a plurality of check-valves, one

wherein pressure from the remaining pump source can be caused to act upon the check valve controlling the failed pump source to insure quick and positive action of the same.

According to the present invention, there has been provided an automatic selector valve adapted to be disposed in a hydraulic system for airplanes and arranged to receive fluid from the main reservoir, and which after this fluid hasbeen acted upon by the pump sources to build up pressure, delivers this fluid under pressure to a fluid actuator for part of the hydraulic system. In the for each of the pump sources which feeds the dormant just long enough as to perhaps cause the airplane to fail before its mission has been ac- It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a selector valve for a hydraulic system for use in airplanes wherein a plurality of pump sources run in operation at all times and wherein upon failure of one of these pump sources, pressure lines of the pump source will be automatically closed ofl' independently of the operator and continued operation of the hydraulic system will ensue with the other pump source whereuponthe auxiliarywill still be operated, the failed pump source being thereby automatically isolated.

It is another obiect of the'invention to provide in a valve arrangement a check valve which will close both suction and pressure lines of the pump source simultaneously and automatically.

It is stilianother obiect of the .invention to provide in a'check valve arrangement of a type.

having a plurality of pressure sources, means fluid under pressure to the valve. This check valve is so arranged that it is operated by pressure from the pump source and when released, due to failure of pressure, it will not only close of! the pressure line from theiparticular pump source, but it will also close off the suction line to that same pump source whereby the complete source is automatically closed off or isolated from the reservoir and from the hydraulic system. With the other pump source still operating, pressure is still hadby the system though to work the fluid actuator at a slower rate. .Each check valve has a passage-way in the same to permit fluid to pass from the remaining pump source to the opposite source will be insured. In order that the pump sources can be primed upon starting the system.

a small plunger is provided which, on being manually depressed, will cause fluid to bypass the valve and flow freely from the reservoir to the suction side of the pump. For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showingthe location of the automatic selector valve in the hydraulic system of the airplane.

Fig. 2 is an end view, in elevation, of the selector valve embodying the features of the present invention. Y

3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-4 of Fig. (land locking of the arrows thereof.

' Fig. 4 is another cross sectional view illustrating more clearly the operation of the priming plungerand taken generally along the line H of Fig. 3.

in the direction as along the line 5 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 there is to a conduit l2 to eflect actuation of a fluid motor l3, the fluid entering the actuator in a manner depending upon the adjustment, of a four-way control valve Hi. With the fluid motor l3 having been actuated, pressure will be built up to sucha degree that it may bypass the fluid actuator through a bypass valve i5 and return to the reservoir through a conduit it which delivers the fluid to a main return pipe W. The main return pipe ii is also connected at its remote end to the control valve M to receive fluid returned from the fluid motor i3. 7

Fed into this valve it by means'of pressure lines it and I9, is fluid under pressure from pump sources 23 and 2| respectively. These pumps on a multiple engine airplane are located externally of the fuselage or the airplane and are adapted to be driven by engines 22 and 23 respectively located nearby. These pump sources. 23 and 2| receive fluid from the. same valve by means 01 suction lines 23 and 25 respectively. The suction and pressure lines of each pump source, are arranged to be controlled by a single check valve within the main selector valve Hi. The check valve for the pump 23 is located in the portion 25 of the main valve l3 At certain'times the pump may need to be primed by fluid from the main inlet opening 3|.

Since there is a shoulder portion 45 which closes on the inlet opening from the opening 43 at such time as the check valve 35 is down, fluid must be obtained by some passageway other than through opening 33. Hence, there is provided a priming plunger 23 adapted to be depressed against the action of a spring 43 so as to open a port ill which communicates with the inlet opening 3i. As this plunger is depressed, the same will move until it is stopped by a retaining screw while the check valve for the pump source 2| is located in the portion 21 of the main valve is. A priming plunger 23 is accessible from the outside of the valve l3 and so connected within the valve as to effect priming of the suction lines 24 and 25.

Referring now .more particularly to the remaining figures; a detail description will now be made of the valve Hi. This valve It includes a valve housing 33 having a main inlet opening3| and a main outlet opening 32. ceived from the reservoir ll through conduit 33 and is ever present in the main inlet opening 3|. Straddling these two openings 3| and 32 are openings 34 and 35 which connect the inlet and outlet openings 3| and 32 together, Fig. 3. These openings 34 and 35 are so arranged as to receive respectively check valves 35 and 31 which totally flll the opening and at all timestend to prevent the fluid in the inlet open ing 3| from passing directly to the outlet opening 32. These openings 34 and 35 are so provided as to simplify the construction .of the housn structure. At the lower end of the valve housing 30 there are provided valve openings 33 and 39. When the check valves are lowered, they are retained in the openings 38 and 39 by thimble elements 40 and 4| threadingly retained within the housing in alignment with the respective check valves.

These check valves each have a narrowed por- Fluid is re-,

tion 42, which, when the valve is turned against 32 from the opening 33.

33 so as to put into registry with the port 31! a 'circular recess 33 on the plunger, whereby fluid will pass from the port 3?, to an opening 53 and thence to a recess in opening 34 provided by the narrowed portion 32 of a check valve. The plunger 23 has a hole 53' which prevents accumulation of fluid in back of the plunger. In this way sumcient fluid is allowed to pass until the pump 2i starts its pumping'action to deliver the fluid under pressure at a sufilcient rate through the conduit 83 as to act with sufliclent pressure upon the bottom of the check valve to cause the same to be lifted from its opening 33 against the action of a spring 5| and until it mayabut a stop 52. When this has taken place,

the valve will have taken a position as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 3. Fluid under pressure will be allowed to flow freely to the outlet opening 32 of the main housing 33 to be supplied to the hydraulic system by way of the conduit l2. While this description has been limited to the operation of but one of the check valve elements, it should be understood that it may well apply to the check valve arrangement at the opposite side of the arrangement. The plunger 23 is also adapted to operate in a similar manner pumps 2| and 22 will be supplying fluid under 6 pressure to the outlet opening 32. Both of the check valves will be in the raised position as shown at the right side of Fig. 3. Fluid will thus be passing the openings 33 and 33. The

fluid is received through the suction lines 24 and 25 from the opening 3| by passing through openings 34 and 35 provided by the narrowed portions 42 ot the check valves when the valves are lifted to disengage closing portions 45 and 54' from the walls of the openings.

Each check valve is provided with a transverse opening 55 in its lower end and which is in communication with a vertically extending passageway 55 which leads to the outer side Qt the check valve.. When both of the pumps are operating and the check valve isretained in its open position, the transverse opening 55 may be in the position as indicated at 51 in Fig. 3. Fluid is thus normally permitted to blow upwardly through the 4 vertical opening 53 to the upper side of the valve at all times, since the stop pins 52 prevent the valves from rising far enough to close off fully the transverse ducts 55. Upon failure of one pump source the check valve which is normally held open by the flow of fluid from said source is allowed to drop,,the fluid pressure from the remaining pump source acting through the opening 55 and passageway 55 to the upper side of the valve so as to apply pressure thereon in order that quick and positive closing of the opening 33 or 33, which ever the case may be.;.wil1; be

insured. Inother words each valve will remain open only so long as there is a current of fluid acting against its end face. When there'is an interruption in such current against either valve, the latter will close automatically, being urged toward and being held on its seat not only by the action of the spring but also by the pressure created by the remaining operative pump.

The valve housing II for the purpose of retaining the springs II, has a threaded-cup shaped portion it into which is threaded an inverted closing cup I! which houses the spring-5i and the stop 52. In order to provide means for the connection of the housing It to some part 01 the airplane structure, there are provided bolt openings Cl.

- It should now be apparent that there has now been provided a pump selector valve for hydraulic systems in airplanes which operates automatically to isolate any pump source which has failed. With one o! the pump sources having failed, the system is still being provided with fluid'pressure from the remaining pump source. Also, while the arrangement has been described with reference to use with hydraulic actuators it should be apparent that it could be equally well used in engine oil supply or engine cooling systems.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid pressure system, aflu'id reservoir, a valve mechanism having inlet and outlet chambers, the former being connected to said reservoir, a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet line which communicates with said inlet chamber and an outlet line which communicates with said outlet chamber, a valve for isolating one of said pumps in the event 01' failure 01' pressure in the outlet line of said pump, and means responsive to the pressure developed by another of "said pumps for eirecting a quick and ositive action of said valve and for holding the latter closed.

2. In a fluid pressure system, a fluid reservoir, a valve mechanism having inlet and outlet chambers, the former being connected to said reservoir, a plurality oi pumps, each having an inlet line which communicates with said inlet chamber and an outlet line which communicates with said outlet chamber, and a plurality of valves, each or said valves being adapted to isolate'one oi voir, a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet line which communicates with said inlet chamber and an outlet line which communicates with said outlet chamber, and a plurality of valves, resilient means for normally biasing said valves to closed positions but permitting said valves to open and to remain open in response to the pres-- sure developed by said pumps, each of said valves closing automatically to isolate one of said pumps in the event of failure of the pressure in the outlet line of said pump and in so doing being re sponsive to said resilient means and to the pressure developed by another of said pumps.

5. In a fluid pressure system, a fluid reservoir, a valve mechanism having inlet and outlet chambers, the former being connected to said reservoir, a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet line which communicates with said inlet chamber and an outlet line which communicates with said outlet chamber, a check valve, and resilient means for normally biasing said valve to cut 01! communication between the inlet and outlet lines of one or said pumps and said inlet and outlet chambers and permitting said valve to open in response to the pressure developed in said outlet line by said pump, said valve, in the event or the failure of pressure in the outlet line of said pump.

being closed by the conjoint action of said resilient means and the pressure developed by another of said pumps.

6. In a fluid pressure system, a fluid reservoir, a valve mechanism having inlet and outlet chambers, the former being connected to said reservoir, a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet line which communicates with said inlet chamber and an outlet line which communicates with said outlet chamber, a plurality of valves, one for isolating each of said pumps in the event of failure of pressure in the outlet line of said pump, means for normally biasing saidl valves to closed positions, and means for by-passing fluid said pumps in the event of failure of the pressure in the outlet line of'said pump and being biased to a closed'position by'the pressure developed by. another of said pumps.

3. In a fluid pressure-system, a fluid reservoir, a valve mechanism having inlet and outlet chambers, the former being connected to said reservoir, a pluralityot pumps, each having an inlet line, which communicates with said inlet chamher and an outlet line which communicates with said outlet chamber, a valve, and resilient means i for normally biasing said valve to a closed position but permitting said valve to openand remain open iii-response to the pressure developed by one of said pumps, said valve closing automatically to isolate said pump in the event or railure of pressure in the outlet lineot said pump andin so doing being responsive tosaid resilient means and to thepressure developed by'another oi said pumps. 9 i 4. In a fluid pressure system, a fluid reservoir,

avalvemechanismhavinginlet andoutlct chamfrom said inlet chamber around said valves when a the latter are closed to thereby prime and initiate the operation 01 said pumps.

7. In a fluid pressure system, a fluid reservoir,

a valve mechanism having inlet and outlet chambers, the former being connected to said reser-.

voir, a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet line which communicates with said inlet cham-- her and anoutlet line which communicates with said. outlet chamber, a check valve, resilient means normally biasing said valve to cut 01! communication between the inlet and outlet lines of one 01 said pumps and said inlet and outlet chamberg and permitting said valve to open and to remain open in response to the pressure devel-,

outletline of said pump, being closedby the conjoint action of said resilient means and the pressure developed by another or said pumps, and means tor biz-passing fluid from said inlet chamber around said valve, when the latter is closed, to the inlet line of saldflrst mentioned pump to thereby prime and initiate the operation or said pump.

8. In a fluid pressure system, a fluid reservoir, a valve mechanism having inlet and outlet chmhers, the tower being connected to said reser- -voir, a plurality of pumps, each having an inlet line which communicates with said inlet ehamher and an outlet line which communicates with said outlet chamber, a plurality of check valves,

cachotsaidvalvesisolaflngoneotsaldpwnps bers, the lower being'connected' to said reserin the event of failure of the pressure in the outlet line of said pump, bores in which said valves are movable to open and closed positions, each of said bores communicating with one of said inlet lines, a. passage connecting said inlet chamber and said bores, whereby to enable fluid from said inlet chamber to be icy-passed around said valves, when the latter are closed, to said inlet lines to prime and thereby, initiate the operation of said pumps, and a normally closed valve in said passage which may be opened at will. 9. A fluid flow control device including: a housing formed with a plurality oi valve bores each of which is provided with an inlet port for fluid under'pressure and an outlet port, the housing also being formed with a fluid inlet chamber having fluid supply means, a plurality of discharge ports opening one to each of said bores from said inlet chamber, and a fluid outlet'ch'amber having fluid outlet means in communication through each of said bores with the respective inlet ports for fluid under pressure; a plurality of valve elements disposed one in each of said bores each of said valve elements being constructed and arranged for positionment simultaneously to open or close said inlet and discharge ports of an associated bore in controlling fluid flow, 'said valve elements also being so constructedand arranged as to preclude fluid flow through the bores between the associated discharge port and said outlet chamber; and resilient means for each of said plurality of valve elements, each of said means acting automatically to bias its as-- 'sociated valve elements to port closing position upon cessation of fluid flow through the said fluid inlet port associated therewith.

10. A fluid flow control device including: a housing formed with a plurality of valve bores each of which is closed at one end and is provided with an inlet port for fluid under pressure and an outlet port, the housing also being formed with a fluid of said bores with the respective inlet ports for 'fluid under pressure and having outlet means;

toward or away from the closed end of its bore inlet chamber having fluid supply means a plurality of discharge ports opening one to each of said bores from said inlet chamber, and a fluid outlet chamber in communication through each simultaneously to open or close said inlet and discharge ports of an associated bore respectively'in controlling fluid flow but to preclude fluid flow through the bore between said inlet and discharge ports, each of said valve elements being formed with a fluid passage which places the closed end 01' its said valve bore at all times in fluid communication with said fluid outlet chamber whereby, upon cessation of fluid flow through one of said inlet ports, the pressure which exists in said outlet chamber as a consequence of others of said valve elements remainin in port open position may act through said fluid passage and the closed valve bore upon said valve element controlling said one oi said inlet ports to bias it to a closed position.

11. A fluid flow control device including: a

housing formed with a fluid inlet chamber and a fluid outlet chamber, the housing also being formed to provide parallel fluid discharge paths leading from said fluid inlet chamber and corresponding parallel fluid return paths leading to said fluid outlet chamber; fluid flow control valve elements operably positioned in said housing, each of said valve elements being constructed and arranged simultaneously to open or close a discharge and a corresponding return path for separate ones of said parallel fluid paths, each of said valve elements also being normally balanced when each thereof is positioned to permit fluid flow in its respective path; and resilient means associated with each of said valve elements for biasing the same to'cut-ofl flow from said fluid inlet chamber in one of said parallel discharge paths and to out-oil! flow to said fluid outlet chamber upon stoppage ot the fluid flow in the corresponding one of said parallel fluid return paths.

HOWARD EDWARDS ROSE. V 

